Kenny Chesney is the cover story in the latest issue of Billboard magazine and in it he gives fans the most pleasing news in over a year… that he’ll play about “60-ish” shows in 2011.

“I’ve already got a 3-D rendering of what our stage show will look like on my computer right now,” Chesney says, lighting up when he discusses things like working out sightlines. “I can look at it from all angles. I don’t want to piece this thing together. If you go out like we do it, if we start in April or March, you can’t wait until January to piece this together.”

The rest of the article focuses on Kenny’s decision not to tour this year and his upcoming album Hemingway’s Whiskey.

Billboard also has a feature with Kenny describing each song on the album. It’s a great read, check it out here.

Read the full article here. You can also purchase this issue of Billboard here.

People Magazine is out with their country music special next week and it includes a Country’s Hottest Guys list. Coming in at number one this year is Kenny’s pal Tim McGraw:

“My wife would pick George Strait,” he says. “She thinks he’s gorgeous! Or Kris Kristofferson. When we’re around him, she can barely speak.”

With a new no-alcohol policy and a tough workout routine, McGraw has managed to lose 37 lbs. and, he says, feels better than ever. “I don’t feel whatever 43 is supposed to feel like – I still feel pretty young,” he says. “I’m more confident than I’ve ever been about who I am and what I do and I feel like I’ve got a lot more ahead of me than I do behind me.”

Kenny Chesney makes the list, although we aren’t sure what slot he landed at. Also making the cut are Keith Urban, Brad Paisley, George Strait, Blake Shelton, and several others.

The People Magazine county special hits newsstands June 18th.

If you’ve ever looked at album credits in a Kenny Chesney album you’ve probably seen the name Buddy Cannon. He’s produced every Chesney record dating back to I Will Stand in 1997.

On Tuesday, Cannon underwent surgery to remove heart blockage:

Songwriter and producer Buddy Cannon underwent surgery Tuesday to clear a blocked carotid artery, and as of Wednesday was back home recovering.

Cannon says he’s doing fine, and expects to be back at his daily activities next week.

Country music fans will be well aware of Cannon’s broad body of work — he’s been in the producer’s chair for releases from the likes of Kenny Chesney and George Jones, and he’s written or co-written a cache of well-loved country songs, including George Strait’s chart-topping “Give It Away” and tunes on Joe Nichols’ most recent set, Old Things New.

(photo: Michael Clancy)

Forbes has released their list of country music’s top earners and Kenny Chesney comes in at number one with $50 million in earnings, down from $65 million a year ago.

Chesney continued his reign atop the country music industry by out-touring everyone else. His 2009 tour grossed $71 million and brought in an average of $1.6 million every night, nearly doubling the box office receipts of his closest competitor, Keith Urban. Prominent sponsorships with companies like Corona and MasterCard keep tour costs down, making the tours even more profitable.

Here’s the rest of the top 10:

• Toby Keith – $48 million
• Taylor Swift – $45 million
• Rascal Flatts – $45 million
• Tim McGraw – $30 million
• Keith Urban – $28 million
• George Strait – $25 million
• Brad Paisley – $22 million
• Alan Jackson – $15 million
• Carrie Underwood – $13 million

The Weather Channel has another video that Kenny Chesney shot of his flooded Nashville property last week:

(H/T Stephanie)

Kenny Chesney has recorded a video at his house in Nashville showing the devastation and asking fans to donate whatever they can:

To help, visit nashvilleredcross.org or you can also text REDCROSS to 90999 to instantly make a $10 donation.

If you missed Kenny Chesney on Anderson Cooper 360 last night talking about the Nashville flooding, here’s the video:

Kenny Chesney has lost a large amount of personal effects to floodwaters that rose past the first floor of his Nashville home:

His publicist, Holly Gleason, says it’s likely his house will be condemned after water rose past the first floor.

Chesney’s gym is ruined. He also lost all of his sports memorabilia, including items from when he was in high school as well as professional sports items and pictures with friends who are athletes.

Chesney was in another state working on a project when the flooding happened over the weekend.

Kenny spoke with CNN’s Anderson Cooper on Wednesday night via telephone and shared video that he shot of his house and land. In the interview, Chesney said that he’s “lost a lot, but not near as much as a lot of people.” He went on to say that the “things I lost, I can replace.”

Chesney once again urged people to “give whatever you can. People have lost everything.” You can make a donation to the Middle Tennessee Red Cross here.

Update – Watch CNN interview with Kenny on Anderson Cooper 360.

Anderson Cooper tweeted this afternoon that he’ll be reporting on the flooding in Nashville and will interview Kenny Chesney:

AC360 with Anderson Cooper airs at 10 pm ET on CNN.

Update – Kenny just tweeted the below picture with this message: “Sending Anderson Cooper footage of my house under water for tonight. TN is a mess. You need to see it. 10p ET CNN.”

(H/T to faithfreek for passing this on)